Rotary Club of Johnson City Earns First Place at District 7570 Conference Awards in Harrisonburg, Va.

(Johnson City, Tenn.) — The Rotary Club of Johnson City was awarded First Place in Public Relations at the Rotary District 7570 Conference held April 23–25 in Harrisonburg, Va. The honor marks the first time in 10 years that the club has received a first-place award at the district level.

The annual District 7570 Conference is part of Rotary International. It brings together clubs from across most of Virginia and Northeast Tennessee to celebrate service, leadership, and community impact.

“This recognition reflects the incredible service work performed by Johnson City Rotarians,” said Mary Ellen Miller, Public Image Chair for the club. “It was great to be able to share the stories of so many Johnson City service projects – from Rotary Readers at Mountain View Elementary School to the Peace Pole Dedication at Rotary Park and the Rotary Wheel at the Appalachian Fair – just to name a few. All of these build a stronger and better community which is what Rotary is all about.”

Miller also served as a breakout session speaker during the conference held at James Madison University, where she shared insights on effective storytelling and community engagement strategies with fellow Rotarians.

Club President Cyrus Fees emphasized the broader significance of the award. “We know that Public Image and increased membership go hand in hand,” said Fees. “Our 12 percent growth from 117 to 132 members since July is proof that increased visibility and awareness calls attention to the great service we are doing and, in turn, brings in new members. This award underscores the club’s ongoing commitment to service and effective communication as a model for community engagement within the district. I’m incredibly grateful to the team who represented our club at the district conference and were there to receive this award on behalf of all our members.”

As part of the honor, the club will display the district’s traveling award banner at the Johnson City Country Club for one year. The banner rotates annually among winning clubs in the district, while the Rotary Club of Johnson City will retain a permanent patch commemorating their achievement on their own club banner.

About the Rotary Club of Johnson City
The Rotary Club of Johnson City meets Tuesdays at noon at the Johnson City Country Club. With dedication to service above self, members support local and global initiatives that improve health, education, and community well-being. Through partnerships and volunteerism, the club strives to make a lasting impact in Johnson City and beyond. The Club can be found on Facebook, Instagram and at www.jcrotary.com.